The Bad Guys (franchise)

The Bad Guys is a media franchise made by DreamWorks Animation, loosely based on the children's book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey. The franchise began with the 2022 film of the same name, and has since grown to include two prequel holiday specials, The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday and The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist, which were released on Netflix in 2023 and 2024 respectively. A sequel, The Bad Guys 2, and a prequel streaming series, The Bad Guys: The Series, were released in 2025.

The franchise features the adventures of a gang of humanoid animals who operate as professional criminals in the face of extreme social prejudice against their species. Eventually, they are inspired to strive to change their ways and try to lead normal lives with the secret help of Diane Foxington, a retired criminal formerly "The Crimson Paw" turned State Governor. However, circumstances force them back to using their criminal skills, albeit in the spirit of more constructive goals.